Seasonal and Morphological Controls on Nitrate Retention in Arctic Deltas

Knights, Deon; Piliouras, Anastasia; Schwenk, Jon; Hariharan, Jayaram; Russoniello, Christopher

doi:10.1029/2022GL102201

Title: Seasonal and Morphological Controls on Nitrate Retention in Arctic Deltas

Journal Article · 15 April 2023 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102201 · OSTI ID:1967536

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Department of Geology and Geography West Virginia University Morgantown WV USA, Environmental Studies Program Department of Earth Sciences Vassar College NY Poughkeepsie USA
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
Earth and Environmental Sciences Division Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos NM USA
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering The University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
Department of Geology and Geography West Virginia University Morgantown WV USA, Department of Geoscience University of Rhode Island Kingston RI USA

Abstract Estimates of nitrate loading to the Arctic Ocean are limited by the lack of field observations within deltas partly due to logistical constraints. To overcome this limitation, we use a remote sensing framework to estimate retention of nitrate in Arctic deltas. We achieve this by coupling hydrological and biogeochemical process models at the network scale for five major Arctic deltas. Binary masks of delta channels were used to simulate flow direction and magnitude through networks. Models were parameterized using historical and seasonal observations. Simulated nitrate retention ranged from 2.9% to 15% of the incoming load. Retention rates were largest during winter but smallest during spring conditions when increased discharges export large nitrate masses to the coast. Under future climate scenarios, retention rates fall by ∼1%–10%. Arctic deltas have an important effect on the magnitude of nitrate entering Arctic seas and the inclusion of processing in deltas can improve flux estimates.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Science (SC); University of Texas; West Virginia University

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1967536

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-22-32180; e2022GL102201

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 50; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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